Freeze Family Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve day was crazy.  I started working a graveyard shift at the Crystal Inn (probably not the best decision...but it is just my chapter in life at this time I guess) - and I had to work until 7 that morning.  So by 9 am I had made a cake, a salad and did some prep work for Trifle & frosting for Christmas Cookies.  I then had to take a nap.  So I slept from 10:30-2:30.

 

Before we headed to Colby & Tamara's house for dinner we had to get Santa's cookies finished.  They kids had a lot of fun.  We went through a few sprinkles :) 

I know that Santa got the best looking cookies from our house this year!

We were almost 20 minutes late to dinner.  I HATE being late.  Better late than dead I guess!  Look at Lexi & MaKayla's baby blue eyes!!  I love them!  MaKayla had her hair in the tiniest pig tails and looked like little Cindy Loo Who.

These 3 stayed in McKenna's room pretty much the entire evening.  It confused McKenna pretty good because I had them dressed the same.  I think they look adorable - but it really messes people up (myself included sometimes).

It appears that Lexi has Brad wrapped around her little finger.  Good girl!  Caleb LOVES his cousins.

 We watched a beautiful movie about the Savior's birth and then Tamara played some Christmas music on the piano.  Their whole family can sing really well!

Dinner was delicious and Tamara's table settings were so cute!  Matching plates, tablecloths, candy canes on the kids plates & Hershey Kisses & Hugs for the table runner.  Luke & Alexa ate a million of those :)

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Anderson Christmas Party

I have discovered this year that I have a deep emotional attachment to family traditions.  I can't decide if it is a good thing or a bad thing.  BUT - this tradition (go figure) is one of the best!  The kids were so excited to get ready to go to Papa Don's & Grammy's Christmas party.  They FINALLY were going to get a present!

These girls were adorable.  They love their Grammy.  I love the way that Rylee sits.  I wonder if she will sit that way when she is older? I love that Taylor's smile just radiated joy the whole night.  I love the 3 musketeers in the bottom picture.  It only took 3-ish years for them to all get along.  When Eva comes over now - the girls don't want her to leave!

It appears that Lexi is working on wrapping herself around Uncle Dylan & Jordon's fingers.  With her big blue eyes, petite little features and spunky personality, who wouldn't love this little girl?!  Luke was just happy to be there....that is until my parents busted out an awesome roller coaster.  Everyone wanted a turn, and if it wasn't Luke's turn, he was having a mental breakdown.  It was a CRAZY 15 minutes. 

Everyone did what they could to get a piece of this little Jack Jack cuteness.  He is the sweetest little boy ever!

Oh. My. Goodness.  Blake gave Taylor a makeup kit.  I don't think I have ever seen her so excited.  Her smile in the top picture cracks me up.  After Angela applied makeup to her, I told her to smile and she couldn't show her teeth because then you couldn't see her lipstick!  Angela is always so nice & helps the girls with their toys.  Papa Don was even a good sport (for about 30 seconds) and let Taylor put some makeup on him. 

Caleb's excitement was infectious.  He couldn't believe that we had to eat dinner before we could open presents!  He got an awesome remote control rattlesnake from Grammy & Papa Don and some 'How to Draw' books from Eva.  He got the candy filled candy canes and said, "Look mom!  If you put them together they make a heart."

We gave Blake the game Pie Face.  I loved it.  I hope that he did.  Caleb wanted to play - and we were all wondering how he would react if he go smacked with the whipped cream.  He surprised us all - because he loved it.  It got him 3 times!  I told him that he was winning.  The next morning at breakfast he was smiling & I said, "What are you smiling about?"  he said, "I can't believe that I was the champion at pie face."

I love my parents.  I bet that they crash hard after we all leave.  Angela made adorable cupcakes.  I can't even imagine what Caleb's little mind is thinking as he stares at my mom's nativity.  Such a sweet moment.



MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Happy Birthday Caleb!

This little man is growing up!  He is doing really well in school this year.  He is doing great at math & at reading.  He gets 100% on practically EVERY spelling test too!  His teacher keeps freaking out because he needs to put a bigger space between his words when he writes a sentence.  He'll get it lady...take a chillaxitive.

 

He is my #1 helper.  He always follows the rules.  Sometimes he thinks he is the adult in situations...I remind him that I'm still around so he can relax.  He is such a honest boy.  I can't think of a better quality to have than honesty. 

Casey & I took Caleb on Frontrunner to Farmington station.  It was great to be able to spend some quality time with this little boy.  He got to open 1 present before we left and it was an Avenger's comic book.  He HAD to take it with.  While we were there we took him to Build-A-Bear.  He picked a cute puppy and named him Oreo.  He was so cute picking out clothes for his puppy.  He would lay the puppy on the ground and put clothes over the top of him to see how it would look.  He finally decided on some star wars themed costume.  I can't remember what it is.  A trooper of some sort.

The next afternoon we had his birthday party.  Even Eddie was ready to party!  Caleb was cute.  He got Avenger's toys, a Lego set, a T-Rex shirt, money, coloring books, a toy truck, and art equipment.  Mona gave Caleb some flannel lined jeans and when she told him how warm they would be she said, "Just think when you are all warm in these pants, it's me giving you a big hug."  I didn't' really think that Caleb was listening, but he looked up at me and said, "Well....that just makes me want to cry!"  He really is wise beyond his years.  That is such a deep, sentimental thought for a little boy to have.

He requested a Captain America shield cake.  It was yummy.  For his birthday dinner he picked mac & cheese, garlic bread & apple slices.  It was tasty!

Little Jackson got his photo taken a few times as well.  It isn't fair that babies don't stay babies for very long.  He's getting so big!  I'm not sure - but I think Angela is a big baby lover.

October & November

Teaching kids how to use a spoon is not one of my favorite things.  They are getting better - but holy crap!

While Luke & Alexa took a snooze one afternoon - they big kids made cute fall trees with q-tips.  Rylee cracks me up.

Caleb wanted to be a rock star one day - so he drew a guitar for himself.  Complete with a skull & crossbones.

At preschool these little posers made cute shape witches at Halloween time!

All Caleb wants for Christmas is his two front teeth!

These two always sit by each other for their morning show.  They have started to play together and talk to each other.  Lexi picks on Luke.  It's sad & funny at the same time.

Caleb took a math test - and had the best answer ever!

We went to redbox one night and rented Inside Out.  It makes me sad that my kids won't ever know the fabulousness of the video store.  I remember going with my parents back in the day when we had to RENT the VCR!  Looking at all the movies lined up on the shelves was so fun.  Flight of the Navigator, Labrinth, Unico....anyways...then we had a grilled cheese and apple slice picnic in the front room.  I will miss moments like this.

Look at her feet.  CUTE!

The neighbor girls came over to play one night.  This is what happened to my babies.

Casey is such a fun dad.  The kids treat him like a jungle gym and he doesn't mind! (most of the time)

There is a Bubble Guppies episode that has cowboys & cowgirls.  Alexa is obsessed!

I have no words.  This just makes my heart happy.

Angela brought over Blake & Griffen's old Halloween costumes.  Lexi wore this get up for a whole day.

Raking leaves + two 2 year olds = zero productivity.



Thanksgiving

I am thankful for a lot of things.  Healthy children, a warm house, my sleep number bed, indoor plumbing, running vehicles, my family & Casey's, a job for myself & for Casey are just a few.

 

The big kids & I colored some turkeys one Sunday afternoon.  I love to color.  Caleb was happy because I let him share my box of crayons for this activity.

These turkeys made pattern turkeys at preschool.  They told me, "We can't eat the candy corn though.  It has glue on it and it will make us sick."

Caleb made this at school.  He is thankful for parents, friends, TV, food, family, toys and xbox.

Rylee was thankful for her mom, dad, brothers & sisters.

Taylor was thankful for dad's hugs.  She's our little cuddle bug.

We had Thanksgiving at my parents house this year.  As always - the food was delicious.  I was nervous because I was in charge of most of the desserts.  But they all turned out pretty good.  My favorite was the pumpkin cheesecake squares with fresh whipped cream.  Y U M

Casey & they kids played a little game while I watched the littles & my mom tackled the kitchen mess.  Alexa was a fan of the cranberry sauce & the candy corns.  I'm surprised she didn't end up with a major sugar rush.  Rylee was Dylan's buddy.  She didn't know his name so she just called him, 'this guy'.  It was adorable and hilarious.

Pumpkin cheesecake bars recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

6 hours

Yield: 24 bars

Ingredients

Crust
• 1 1/2 cups graham crackers crumbs
• 1/4 cup melted butter
Filling
• 4 packages (8 oz each) cream cheese, softened
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup (8 oz) canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
• 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
Garnish
• whipped cream
• pumpkin pie spice

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 300°F.
2. Line a 13X9" baking pan with parchment paper leaving about 1 inch of paper hanging on the sides.
3. In a medium size bowl, combine the graham cracker crumbs with the melted butter.
4. With your fingers press the crust on the bottom of the prepared pan. Set aside while making the filling.
5. In the mixing bowl of your stand-up mixer, add the cream cheese and sugar. With the paddle attachment on, beat on low speed until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in eggs, one at a time, just until blended.
7. Spoon half of the mixture over the crust and spread evenly.
8. To the remaining cream cheese mixture add the pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice.
9. With a wire whisk stir until smooth. Carefully, spoon over mixture in pan.
10. Bake the cheesecake in the preheated oven for 50 minutes or until just set. Turn off the oven and leave the door ajar allowing the cheesecake to slowly cool down for about 1 hour or so.
11. Refrigerate for at least 3 hours before cutting into bars.
12. Top each bar with whipped cream and a dust of pumpkin pie spice.

September

September is always a pretty slow month.  Trying to get everyone on a 'school schedule' was the focus.  They all seem to be loving school.  I have seen a lot of improvement in Caleb's reading and math.  He is one smart boy.

 

Caleb inherits Blake's old clothes.  He is such a skinny Mr. that they might fit him in 10 years.  They each picked a t-shirt out of our latest stack of hand-me-downs for pajamas.

Sometimes there just isn't enough kool-aid left for 2 glasses.

It isn't the first time that they had to share a drink :)

 

Books and blankets was the theme for this afternoon.  A D O R A B L E!

I let the girls make 'potions' one morning with their leftover cereal milk.  They had a blast.  I ran out of parsley flakes, sesame seeds & soy sauce that morning.

This kid can't get enough of me.  Who can blame him?

Casey tackled a pantry make over one week.  It turned out nice!  The girls helped me get the painting done while Luke & Alexa napped one afternoon.

These birds were HUGE.  And yellow.  I have no idea what they were & I probably looked like a psycho standing on my front porch taking millions of pictures.  I was waiting for them to fly or to turn around - but it wasn't happening.